Category Archives: Friend

SELAH Daily Devotions!

GM FAM! GOTTA MOMENT? AWEMAZZING!

We’re excited that you’ve joined us, once again for our Weekly Thursdays’ Corporate Prayer and Fasting! We’re quickly approaching the end of 2017 and the beginning of a brand new day! If you’re like me, you can truly say, “If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be?” Nevertheless we share the self same victorious testimony, “I am not ashamed of The Gospel of Jesus Christ! Oh, how our Lord has so faithfully blessed and preserved our coming in and our going out!” Amen 3x! Shall we boldly enter in The Majestic Throne Room of our Father, with eternal gratitude we bow before The God of All Creation, giving honor and glory to The King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true! And with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary, Lord for YOU! Ooooh how I love JESUS! Ooooh how I love JESUS! OOOOH HOW I LOVE JESUS! BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED ME! So, here we are to worship, here we are to bow down! Here we are to say that You’re My God! You’re altogether Worthy, Altogether Lovely, Altogether WONDERFUL 2 ME! And when the battle is o’vr I shall wear a crown, I shall wear a crown, I shall wear a crown! When the battle is o’vr I shall wear a crown! I shall wear a golden crown!!!

Father of All Glory, here we are again! As we beseech Your Presence, acknowledging that there is none like You in Heaven above nor the earth below! For You Alone are GOD, THE HOLY ONE, THE GREAT I AM! It is with joy-filled praise that we lift our hearts and our hands heavenward, emptied of anything that would warrant Your Amazing Grace, but solely we cling to The Name that is above every other Name, trusting wholly that as we claim The Name of Jesus, we have direct access to all of the Favor that Heaven possesses!

Looking back, we know that it was no goodness of our own but wholly Your Unfailing Love that allows us to be here to see one more brand new day! Therefore, we come thanking You Father for the honor and privilege bestowed upon all who will earnestly seek Your Face! For You are the Source of our Life, Strength, Love, Peace, and The Joy of our Hope, Wisdom and Understanding! In You we live, move and have our very being!

As we delight ourselves in glorifying Your Name, You continue to give us the desires of our hearts! As we look not at the things which are seen, but focus our faith on The benevolent Lovingkindness of The Eternal Father, Abba, we rest in The Peace that passes all understanding, confident that You are Sovereignly Ruling and Reigning over the affairs of humanity! We’re thankful that You have a Plan, Purpose and Destiny for each one that You’ve called before the foundation of this world! We’re thankful that You’re not a man that can lie, neither shall You ever need to repent! You have sworn by Your God-Self, that whosoever shall call upon Your Name, shall be saved! If You said it, it shall come to pass!

Abba Father, we come continuously blessing You for the day that You opened our hearts, enabling us to recognize and receive the saving Grace in the Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection of Your Son, Jesus! We acknowledge that because it pleased You, You Sovereignly choose us to be Your very own children, even though there was absolutely nothing in us lovable nor worthy of this honor and privilege! Lord Jesus, we are eternally grateful that we’re here now only because You so purposed in Your Heart and by Your Own Hand!

Sweet Jesus, we’re thankful that You, knowing our frame and because of the Unsearchable Richness of Your Faithfulness and Compassion, You look beyond our human frailties, faults and iniquities to see and minister to every one of our need! Therefore, we shall never fail to acknowledge that You are The True and Living God of our Salvation, our Deliverance, Breakthrough and Provision! Heaven Father, we have so much to thank You for and absolutely nothing to complain about, so we refuse to take anything for granted! We praise You for allowing us to even think to pray this morning! We pray, Abba Father, forgive me this day for every and anything I’ve done, said or thought that was not pleasing to Your Heart! By faith, we believe and receive Your forgiveness, in The Precious Name of Jesus!

Jesus, we bless You for being willing to sacrifice Your Life that we might receive Eternal Life! We thank You for The Atoning Precious Blood that You so freely offered in our stead, that our sins would be washed away, allowing us to become Sons of The Most High God, vessels empowered by Holy Spirit, to be a Light, reflecting The Love of God amidst the backdrop of darkness of a sin-filled, sin-lusting, sin-lead people, driving them to envy the unsearchable joy and peace that we have discovered thru developing a personal relationship with You!

Your Word has told us that while we’re in this world, we shall suffer test, trials and tribulations, yet because we are sojourners here, we are fully persuaded that as citizens of another Kingdom, we have an Eternal Hope, that’s beyond this world and as we walk thru the valleys, overshadowed with death, we shall fear no evil for You Shall Deliver Us from them All! As we embrace this day ahead, Heavenly Father, wrap our minds with a new attitude and loads of gratitude! Keep Your children safe from all hurt, harm and danger! Let us make the best of each moment that You have gifted to us! Lord Jesus, clear our minds so that we can hear from You and cleanse our hearts that we may deny ourselves, trust and obey Your Will!

Abba Father, because no man can come close to You, except You draw them, we pray that Your Blood-Stained Eyes will continue to search the hearts of mankind and blessing all those who crying out to You now! We’re interdeding on behalf of every unsaved soul, asking that You quicken the Spirit of Godly-repentance in their hearts and minds that they will come to you today with a “sincere YES” to Your Grace Gift and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior!

Eternal Father, we ask You to fill the hearts and minds of every backslider with a fresh “Committed YES’ and let this day be the day that they come running back to You and to Your local church! We’re believing that many of our unsaved loved ones and friends will be saved before the end of 2017 and become part of our Eternal Family! In Jesus Name Amen 3x!

Father, touch our brother, touch our sister whose body has been afflicted by sickness and disease, especially the spirit of cancer, high/low blood pressure, heart disease, kidney, lung failure, satanically induced depression/oppression/addictions and rebuke and cast it out at the root, for Your Name Sake!Lord, we’re holding on to the Infallible WORD which decreed that the stripes that Jesus bore on His back has already redeemed and healed us! Therefore, under the Eternal Authority of our Divine Creator and Ruler of the Ages, we also declare that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and raise them up, In Jesus Name!

Lord, as we intercede on behalf of our brother and sisters, we pray that you will remember those who are being overlooked, held down and even abused by undeniable racial prejudice in this country. We’re believing You to intervene on their behalf, releasing miraculous Favor and Prosperity, unexpected promotions, opening up opportunities for entrepreneurship, increased education grants, lower interest mortgage rates, debt cancellations, book contracts and overturning legal decisions to give us the victory!

Lord, we’re praying for every believer who is yet holding on to Your Hand by faith today, that from the portals of The Throne Room,You are releasing a double portion of Your overflowing Divine power, Supernatural Strength, Health, Provision, Prosperity and Protection. Father, we thanking You for an outpouring of Your Divine Favor upon each and every one of your children who are seeking employment, promotion, prompt approval for student/car/home loans! Precious Lord, we’re believing You to preserve Your elect in the midst of these trying times! Father, as we’re looking towards the hills from whence cometh all our help, crying out, send now help from Zion, we ask that You comfort the hearts of Your children with restful-assuring peace, that confirms that regardless of who sits in The Oval Office, congress or supreme court, YOU ARE ETERNALLY SEATED UPON THE CIRCLE OF THE EARTH AND ABSOLUTE POWER BELONGS TO YOU and YOU are Jehovah Jareh, who shall supply all of their need according to Your Riches in Glory!

In faithful obedience, we lift up the political, social, judicial, business, civil/public service, military servant/leaders, trusting You to visit them in the nite seasons with visions and dreams as You touch and direct the hearts of each one of them!

Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher and Teacher. Undergird them with Your Anointing to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people and those who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the ministryYou have ordained. Grace them to be the holy humble examples in their homes, marketplace, communities and churches that will cause those who are in their sphere of influence to love, trust and live everyday of life serving and glorifying You, Our Heavenly Father!

Holy Spirit, as we pray, we’re asking You to touch the Mothers and Fathers of Zion, who have labored in the Vineyard interceding on our behalf. Many of which are yet believing for things that have yet to manifest! Comfort their hearts that our prayers have no expiration date and reward their faithfulness with sweet peace!

Lord, there are so many other things, that we have yet to mention, but we’re trusting, believing you to fix it, Jesus, as only You can! Lord, we know that You are not just able, but willing to do anything that we ask, in accordance to Your Word, in Jesus Name!

We’re believing that every demonic-induced spirit of fear, failure, rejection, hopelessness and disappointment be defeated by Your Anointing and that The Spirit Love, Joy, Peace, Power and a Sound Mind is being released now, in Jesus Name!We’re trusting that each morning Your children will awaken empowered with assuring grace to accomplish every assignment and sleep peacefully every nite, confident of earnest hope-filled tomorrows!

Heavenly Father, continue to bless us that we may be a blessing to others. Keep us strong that we may help the weak.. Keep us uplifted, encourage our souls that we may share words of encouragement to those who need comfort and assurance that You are with them also!

As we offer up this prayer, Father we wait in confidence and quietness, rejoicing in hope and trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame, turning their backs from Your people, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayer as a sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Father, we thank You NOW, for WE believe that IT IS DONE according To Your Perfect Will and Purpose for our lives! In The Exalted Name of Jesus. Amen 3X

Now every child of God who is standing in agreement with this prayer, GO TELL SOMEBODY THAT GOD’S MERCY IS EVERLASTING AND HIS TRUTH ENDURES FOREVER!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 148:13-14

As a born-again and bred, Blood-washed, Holy Ghost baptized and filled in the Grand Ole Church of God in Christ, I know, personally, what it means when you hear the words ‘give honor to whom honor is due’!And if you’ve ever had the pleasure of attending one of their Holy Convocations or District meetings, I’m sure you do too! LOL!

Although we were trained in pulpit etiquette that once the podium is addressed the first time, it’s no longer necessary for every subsequent person to address the entire pulpiteers individually! At least, that’s what they told us. Nevertheless, some of us could not help ourselves from spending at least 8-10 minutes giving honor to ‘the Bishops, Superintendents, Pastors, Elders, District Missionaries, Evangelists, Deacons, Chairman of the Usher Boards, Choir Directors, Choir Member, Saints, Members and Friends before finally doing what they were asked to do!

Don’t get mad at me…on the inside, I’m still COGIC 2 DA BONE!

However, I’ve noticed that there’s only ONE NAME that’s uniquely and distinctly dignified with its own Exclusive Exaltation! And that’s the Name that’s above every other name that can ever be named! That name is JESUS!

When you understand the tremendous worth and exceedingly radiant glory impregnated in HIS NAME, the only acclamation that even comes close to befitting HIMis the ONEDivinely-inspired by the original praise and worship team (the angelic host) who continuously behold His Face, is ‘OH Glorraaaaa!’

Considering, according to Biblical Historians, the name YAHWEH was so sacred that uttering it was almost blashphemous, what an amazing honor that The Father has bestowed upon us that allows up to freely lift up The Name of His Son—JESUS! Awesome things happen, when you call upon Jesus because there’s extravagant power available to those who trust in the Name!

The world has purposed its own list of certain names that are synonymous with importance, wealth, fame, beauty, talent and intelligence such as Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Rockefellow, Haley Berry, Magic Johnson and Sigmund Freud, to name a few. And while these names may carry a certain degree of clout and access among man, it does not impress God in the least. But there is a name that over-rides and over-rules everything seen and unseen. Talk about name-dropping, huh?

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10)

No wonder, those who have been saved, healed, delivered and truly love the Lord, just can’t help but to worship the ONLY NAME WORTH praising at all—JESUS!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

GOTTA MOMENT?

Good Morning Family, once again, we are excited to ask you to join us today in our Thurdays Corporate Fasting and Prayer ! We know that there’s much to place before The Throne of Mercy and Grace personally and on behalf of our loved ones, friends and this entire world in which we live. As them ol’ skool saints used to say, “those who know the word and worth of prayer’let’s us pray believing that God hears and answers according to the Power that works within us!

OOOOH HOW I LOVE JESUS! OOOHHH HOW I LOVE JESUS! OOOH HOW I LOVE JESUS! BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED MEEEE! HE IS SO WONDERFUL, HE IS SOOO WONDERFUL, HE IS SOOO WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL JESUS…WONDERFUL GOD… AND HERE WE ARE TO WORSHIP, HERE WE ARE TO BOW DOWN, HERE WE ARE TO SAY THAT YOU’RE OUR GOD! YOU’RE ALTOGETHER LOVELY, ALTOGETHER WORTHY, ALTOGETHER WONDERFUL! Shall we pray?

Almighty Lord God, in The Precious Name of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, we come together now thanking You for this day! For this is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it! We bless You Lord Jesus for making a Way for us to approach The Throne of Mercy with a holy boldness and confidence that You sit on The Right Side of The God Who Is, Was, and Shall Eternally Be The One True God, Creator of Everything!

Heavenly Father, with eternal gratitude we bless You for allowing us to enter into Your Throne Room, hope-filled that You will entreat us graciously as we pour out the burdens that seem to overwhelm our hearts and releasing everything that concerns us.

Lord, we know that You are Omniscient, Omnipresent, You see and You already know everything about everyone of us, yet You have welcomed us to come to You, and find Mercy and Grace to comfort, strengthen and encourage us to hold on to every Word that You have spoken over our lives, before we were born! We ask that Holy Spirit, intercede on our behalf, our family, our friends, even our enemies. Lord, we stand humbly before Your Sovereignty, asking you to forgive us for everything that we, your servants, have spoken, done and thought that was not pleasing in Your sight!

We thank You now because You have assured us that if we would confess our sins, You, Abba being Faithful and Just will forgive us, and wash us in The Precious Blood of Jesus, cleansing us from all unrighteousness, and restoring the breach that our disobedience has caused between our poor souls and our Lord and Savior, Jesus!

Lord, as we come reverently praying for all our sisters and brothers, we ask that The Prince of Peace fill our hearts and our homes with peace, love, and joy! We ask , believing that You are The Author, Sustainer and Finisher of our faith, therefore we’re trusting that every eye that reads and says this Prayer come to know that there is no problem, no circumstance, no situation that is greater than our God, for You Father God are greater than all, greater in all, greater through all, and greater upon all. For You Holy Father, are the Most High God, Almighty of all the Universes is truly the Greatest of All!

Father, we pray as you have commanded in Your Holy Word, for all our enemies, and those who have used and abused us, and have lifted up their hands and their tongue against us, we now forgive them for all they have done. In Jesus Name, for we are Children of God.
Abba Father, we are so grateful that as we continue to walk closely with You, we understand that every battle that we have ever encountered in our lives is always in the control of Your Loving Hands, for You, have Sovereignly Ordained everything to work together for my highest good and Your Greater Glory!

Lord, while we try to please You by trusting in Your Word, You know that sometimes, it’s difficult to over-ride the noise of the pestilence, the chaos of uncertainty and the pain of condemnation, guilt, and shame that seems to lure us into the valleys shadowed with danger, fear, anger, bitterness, anxiety, hopelessness and self-doubt! That’s why we gladly run to You, daily to find refuge, peace, restoration that You have prepared for any who would come to You in hope-filled assurance that You will never deny Your Word! Heavenly Father, we’re forever praising and Glorifying Your Name for continuing to renew our strength, understanding and power as we open our hearts to You, depending and relying only on You.

Sweet Jesus, as we yield before Your Face, we intercede for anyone who has not yet acknowledged You as The Only Way to receive Your Gracious Salvation! Father, we’re believing You to ignite a spirit of Godly-repentance that infuses a “Yes” in their heart and in their mind and that they will have a desire to come to you today and receive You as their personal Lord and Savior! Father, we rebuke the spirit of deception, complacency, indifference and ask that You quicken an urgency in them, knowing that You are coming back to judge the world sooner than they thought and we must be prepared to receive You in Peace!

We pray for every one who has, for whatever reason, walked away from You, be provoked by the anointing that is on our prayer, to come back to you today and that You will put a new ‘Commited YES LORD’ in their hearts and a willful obedience in their spirit to live the rest of their lives faithful and committed to Your WILL (WORD) and WAYS!

Father God, we ask that anyone reading this prayer, wondering why they even find themselves reading it, will bow their hearts toward You now, confessing their need for You in their lives, acknowledging Your Amazing Love towards them and in appreciation will invite The Lord Jesus Christ to come into my life and change my heart now!

Abba Father, we pray for the elderly, the widows, the downcast who have born the heat of the day, and have been those who pushed and prayed us through, Lord fill their hearts and minds with Your sweet Peace and unspeakable Joy.

Lord, we pray for the leaders of governments world-wide, knowing their hearts are in Your Hands, we believe that You will visit them in the night season and command them to do Your Will. Abba, we lift up every Bishop, Pastor, Overseer, Apostle, Evangelist, Preacher and Teacher. Undergird them with Your Anointing to carry out their assignment, under the direction of Holy Spirit. Cover them as they go in and out amongst Your people and those who would seek to discredit, hinder and even destroy their faith, faithfulness and the ministry You have ordained.

Father, as we lift up our children, our children’s children and by faith, canceling every scheme that Satan desires to inflict upon them, committing them into Your providential care, we realize that You have a plan and purpose for their lives too and we have the blessed assurance that their steps are being ordered by Your eyes!

Father, stir up the hearts and minds of those who are professing Your Name that they will have a desire for an even greater personal, intimate relationship with Creator God through fellowship of Holy Spirit that they might prove what is the perfect and acceptable will of The Lord Jesus!

We ask that You continue to open the eyes of understanding so that your people are not easily deceived by those who would desire to entrap Your children in bondage to that which you have delivered us from.

Father, we believe that every demonic-induced spirit of temptation, perversion, addiction, rejection, self-hate, suicide, fear and failure is already defeated by Your Anointing and that the Spirit of Love, Power and Sound-mindness is being released now, in Jesus Name!

Father, we rejoice now in confidence and quietness, trusting wholly that all workers of iniquity are trembling and suddenly departing in shame and defeat, turning their backs from Your people, because You have heard the voice of our weeping, our supplications and received our prayers as sweet savor coming up before Your Sovereign Throne of Grace and Mercy!

Lord God, there are so many other things, that we have yet to mention, but we’re trusting, believing you to fix it, Jesus as only You can!

Father because Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, my Lord, Savior, and Eternal King, we confess TODAY that I AM HIGHLY FAVORED BY GOD and man, I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, COVERED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND WALK IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST JESUS!

As we offer up this prayer we’re praising and thanking You in advance, knowing that You are not just able, but willing to do anything that we ask, in accordance to Your Word!

We pray that these words be believed, received and accepted into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every tongue that confesses them In that Name of Jesus Christ! Amen 3x! It is done! Alleluia!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiced; and with my song will I praise Him. The Lord is their strength and He is the Saving Strength of His Anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; feed them also, and lift them up forever. Psalm 28:7-9

Remember that song that the Sunshine Choir sang, “He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands”? In a world full of constant drama, it’s comforting to know God is in control, huh? Yet, sometimes on this journey called life, we’ve all experienced those times when knowing that He’s got the world in His Hands can ring a little bit hollow. I mean no disrespect to The Most High God, but sometimes, we need to bring God a little closer. That’s exactly why He sent His Son Jesus!

God, knowing the frailty of our human frame, understands that sometimes we need to experience His Personal Touch. Oh Yeah, we know God’s got His hands pretty full maintaining all of creation, but His Hands are so big that there’s always plenty of room left for us! Keep this in mind, even when it seems like you’re living on the edge, He’s yet able to keep you from falling. (Ref. Jude 1:24)

Our Heavenly Father asked the Prophet Isaiah,‘can a mother forget her suckling child?’ Well even if she does, God wanted His children to know that He can’t ever forget you; you’re forever before His eyes. He’s even engraved your picture on the palms of His Hands!(Ref. Isaiah 49:15-16) #didjaheardat?

Wow, what a friend we have in Jesus! The scriptures, confirm that Jesus is that friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is so devoted and committed to uphold us in all of our ways. Seriously!There is absolutely no thing or no one who could ever pluck you out of His Hands! He swore by GODSELF! “For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself” Hebrews 6:13

If you’re in His Hands today, relax. Trust2Kno, You’re in the safest place in this world!Trust The Love that won’t ever let go! Rest assured…He’s Gotcha!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:5-6

Most of us didn’t have a choice about what family we were born into, not to mention who our family members are. We came through the old fashioned way. In other words, you kinda got who and what you got!

But, looking back, adoption has been a common, yet always celebrated, event in our family. I guess, it’s ‘cause, generally, we’re just big-hearted! A lot of my folk, opened their hearts and homes to little boys and girls whose biological parents, for whatever the circumstances, were unable to provide the nurturing love that they needed. I can’t tell you how awesome it was to welcome and embrace a new cousin, niece or nephew. I remember thinking, “Wow, they must be pretty special to be picked out like that”!I’d seen those black and white movies about orphans who were waiting and waiting for parents. Someone would come in, look them over, decide if they were cute enough, little enough, big enough, smart enough, strong enough, good enough. I imaginetheir list of criteria could’ve been as unique as their handprints, huh?

Sometimes, a few of them would get “lucky” and be adopted. But more often than not, many more were left behind. The rejected kids probably assumed that they didn’t quite fit the model the prospective parents were looking for. Can you imagine what it’s like to feel that kind of rejection? Sadly, many of us can.But Thanks Be to God! According to our scripture text, there is One looking down through the portals of Eternity! Before we were even born, GOD Personally and purposely selected you and Ito become His Very Own!I mean, He actually legally adopted us through His First Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to be legitimate sons and daughters! And what’s even more amazing to this seemingly unbelievable reality, is that God chose us knowing exactly what He was getting!I know, right?

The Bible attests that “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly… But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:6, 8)!Didjaheardat?Not only are we lovingly accepted into God’s own family, but as justified believers, we’re joint-heirs with The King of Glory, ChristJesus! Now that we’re God’s sons and daughters, we’re free to share and enjoy the same rights and privileges that Jesus Christ does! (Ref. Romans 8:17) Ain’t that Amazing? Good God Ta Mighty!

I don’t know how you feel about it, but to me, that sounds a whole lot like He Really Does Want You!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“Whom shall he teach knowledge?and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept,precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

But The Word of the Lord unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:” Isaiah 28:9-15

This message of God spoken through God’s Prophet Isaiah is addressed to Ephraim, who, according to God’s own words, had become a spoiled child, a nation prone to arrogance and prideful boasting of what they themselves have accomplished. Like many of us today, who having arrived at a certain level, intoxicated by the accolades, pompous splendor of worldly success, tend to forget that it was only by and through The Mighty Hand of God that we are who we are, do what we do and have what we have. As Grand Ma used to say, ‘we get too big for our own britches’! But, history has adeptly emphasized that it might serve us well to remember that God is a Jealous God and refuses to share His Glory with any other god, even if that god be a figment of our own warped imagination!

According to today’s scripture text, the plumb line had been moved so far away that even Ephraim’s leaders, the priest and prophets, were no longer teaching (nor living) according to the guidelines that God had specifically laid out before them, line upon line, precept upon precept. They all had become so drunk with their titles in the church, kissing up to political officials and making a name for themselves in the communities that couldn’t see straight neither were their words making any sense! In other words, forgetting how deceitful and self-serving flesh can be, everybody did what was right in their own minds!

The temple had become so filled with such ungodly noise and the altars so polluted with vomit that the people were clueless as to what True Holiness was all about. No longer was the Church the place where the people of God came together to worship and lift up His Name and trained in the ways of righteousness, but rather just another medium for religious entertainment! Sound uncomfortably familiar, huh?

BUT GOD!God has a way of snatching self-made crownsright off our heads, knocking us down a few notches and bringing us back to our senses, huh? If you persist in your childish ways, God, as any good earthly Father, has His own swtich (rod of correction) ready to train you back into proper alignment! He Whom the Lord loves, He also chastens! (Ref. Hebrew 12:6-11)

God’s life insurance policy is Just and God’s Word is the measuring stick for righteousness!

SELAH Daily Devotions!

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”(Matthew 6:22-23)

Have you seen that optical illusion photo of Jesus where you’re instructed to stare at the four dots continuously for about a minute, then look away to the light and watch the darkness evaporate revealing The Face of Jesus?

DID YOU SEE HIM YET… still too dark, huh?

Belief it or not, that’s a challenge for most believers? I mean, seriously!How can we be expected to focus on The Light of the World, when we are constantly encompassed and distracted by such gross darkness? As with most of the things Our Heavenly Father expects of us, it’s not always easy, yet if we make a conscious effort to disciple ourselves, it is possible!

We must stick to the Living Word of Truth; not just on crisis days, but every day; as if our very lives depended upon it. And it does! Beloved, remember we’re strangers sojourning through this life on our way to a Glorious Family Reunion. (Ref. John 17:16) Jesus prayed to The Father that He would keep us in this world until He’s sent again to fully restore us to The Kingdom. Knowing fully well that we’d be hated by His enemies, just like He was while he walked this earth; Jesus asked The Father to put His Light in us to ensure that His followers would never be without His Presence. (Ref. John 17:15; Matthew 5:14)

The Apostle James said, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

Remember, thou weary one, you are God’s Chosen! Despite the random patches of darkness, we are never abandoned. Jesus guaranteed that there will always be just enough light to guide us through these momentary afflictions! (Ref. Hebrew 13:5)

DON’T TRIP! STAY FOCUSED ON THE SON LIGHT! THAT’S RIGHT…SINGLE-VISION!